This report explores the hypothesis that massive cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation in macrophages, such as that occurring in atheroma foam cells, results in changes in the expression or modification of specific cellular proteins. Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoretic patterns of metabolically labeled cellular proteins from mouse peritoneal macrophages that were loaded with CE (through incubation with acetylated low density lipoprotein [acetyl-LDL] for 4 days) were compared with those of control macrophages. Densitometric analysis of 2-D gel autoradiograms from the cell lysates revealed statistically significant changes in seven cellular proteins (five decreases and two increases). The changes in protein expression (foam cell versus control) ranged from a 458±164% (p<0.001) increase to a 35±34% (p<0.001) decrease (n=U). Incubation of macrophages with /3-very low density lipoprotein, which also increased the CE content of macrophages (albeit to a lesser extent than acetyl-LDL), resulted in changes in five of the seven proteins. In contrast, incubation of cells with LDL, fucoidan, or latex beads, none of which caused CE accumulation, did not lead to significant changes in four of these five proteins. One of these four proteins, which increased fourfold to fivefold in foam cells (Af r =49,00O; isoelectric point of 6.8), was purified by preparative 2-D gel electrophoresis. Internal amino acid sequence of cyanogen bromide fragments of this protein as well as Western blot analysis identified this protein as an isoform of er-enolase. The increased expression of this or-enolase isoform, which was seen as early as day 2 of acetyl-LDL incubation of the macrophages, was diminished by including an inhibitor of cholesterol esterification during the acetyl-LDL incubation period. In conclusion, macrophage foam cell formation is associated with distinct changes in protein expression, including a marked increase in an isoform of a-enolase, suggesting a specific biological adaptation to CE loading. (Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis 1993;13:264-275

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One drawback to using perfluorochemical emulsions as blood substitutes is that perfluorochemical particles are cleared from the blood by the reticuloendothelial system, primarily liver and spleen. We measured the impact of two perfluorochemical emulsions on clearance of colloidal carbon (less than 1 microns) and 51Cr-sheep red blood cells (about 8 microns) by the reticuloendothelial system in vivo and in the isolated perfused liver. Male rats were injected with 2 ml/100 gm body wt of Fluosol-DA or Oxypherol-ET for 4 consecutive days. Carbon (1 ml/100 gm body wt) or sheep red blood cells (0.05 ml of 5% vol/vol/100 gm body wt) were then injected intravenously (in vivo) or added to perfusate. Samples were taken at several time points for 1 hr. In the isolated perfused liver, carbon clearance was depressed by 25% 1 day after treatment. Rates returned to control levels by 12 days in Fluosol-DA-treated rats but remained depressed by 67% in Oxypherol-ET-treated rats. Sheep red blood cell (8 microns) clearance was two to five times slower than carbon clearance and depressed by 40% in livers from Fluosol-DA rats 1 day and 12 days after treatment. Added serum did not improve phagocytosis. In vivo carbon clearance remained normal in Fluosol-DA-treated rats but decreased by 74% in Oxypherol-ET-treated rats 1 day after treatment, returning to normal by 12 days. Clearance rates were similar in control rats in vivo and in the perfused liver. We conclude that the isolated perfused liver is a good model to measure liver clearance function. Although low doses of perfluorochemical emulsions may depress Kupffer cell phagocytosis, general reticuloendothelial system function is not significantly compromised.

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